Page 65 of My Real Love Affair

“It’s fine. Try again. Remember, you need to give it gas as you release the clutch. Slowly.”

She started the car again. This time we made it ten feet before another grinding sound and another lurch.

“I’m sorry!” she actually shrieked. “I’m destroying your very expensive car!”

Probably, I thought but didn’t say. “You’re fine. You’re doing fine.”

She was laughing now, that hysterical nervous laughter that made her shoulders shake. “This car probably costs more than my townhouse and I’m grinding the gears.”

“Come on. Third time’s the charm.”

She took a deep breath and started the car again. This time, she managed to get us out of the circular driveway and onto the actual road.

And then promptly stalled again at the stop sign.

Her shriek of horror made me double over laughing.

“It’s not funny!” But she was laughing too, that beautiful laugh that transformed her whole face. “Stop laughing at me!”

“The sounds you’re making are hard not to laugh at.”

“I’m traumatized!”

“You’re adorable.”

She turned to look at me, her cheeks flushed, hair slightly mussed from running her hands through it. “I’m a disaster.”

“A beautiful disaster.” The words came out softer than I’d intended.

“Okay,” she said, turning back to the wheel with renewed determination. “I’m doing this. I’m driving your stupid fancy car or I’m destroying it.”

“That’s the spirit.”

The car shook as she eased off the clutch and then we were actually driving. Sort of.

“You’re doing great,” I said.

“I’m doing terribly and you know it.”

“Just keep it in fourth and we’ll be fine,” I said.

“Oh my God!”

“What?” I asked, sitting up and looking around.

“How in the hell am I supposed to drive in the city! There will be stopping and going. Lots of stopping and going! One hill and we’re screwed.”

I laughed. The transmission was going to be a mess after this but fuck it. A few grand was worth it to make her smile and laugh. It was sexy and adorable, and damn, with her features highlighted by the dash lights, I was certain she was the prettiest woman I had ever seen.

Suddenly, I wasn’t laughing anymore.

CHAPTER 20

MELODY

Iwas still riding the high of successfully driving Austin’s ridiculously expensive sports car when we pulled into the underground parking garage of his building. And then I saw the parking spot.

“Oh no,” I breathed.